Harry Sharrock – a very worthy innings!

Harry Sharrock – a very worthy innings!

Roger Neck pays tribute to Harry Sharrock, former president of the Electrical Power Engineers Association



I was so saddened to hear the news of the death of my dear friend Harry Sharrock on 20 February at the age of 82.

Harry was President of the Electrical Power Engineers Association in 1989/90 and I was privileged to have Harry inaugurate me as President in April 1990.

I have so many happy memories of times spent together during our many years on the National Executive Committee.

Union and community work

Harry’s incredible record of service to the EPEA/EMA/Prospect must surely equal that of any lay member.

Harry was already on the NEC when I first joined in 1984 and he served on it until his retirement from Manweb in 1993.

He was soon to return, however, having been elected as an associate/retired members’ representative in 1996 and I believe he continued to hold that position until 2009.

Harry served on the national Retired Members’ Group from its inception in 1996. He was elected Vice-President of the RMG in 2001 and became President in 2006, serving in that capacity until 2009.

Harry served on the RMG national committee until January 2016, so it would not be amiss to say that Harry was active almost to his death!

Harry had the extremely rare honour of receiving a Prospect Distinguished Member’s Service Award in 2014.

Harry also served as a member of the Manweb Pension Scheme Trustees.

Buckingham Palace

As well as his union activities, Harry sat on the regional Employment Tribunal for many years. Harry and his wife Pam were rewarded with an invitation to meet the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party in recognition of that service.

He also spent many years serving as a volunteer on his local Citizen’s Advice Bureau. It could be said that Harry’s incredible and loyal service to the community was second to none!

Upton Cricket Club

However there is more! We both shared a love of cricket and last October Harry was proud to visit Lord’s to receive an Outstanding Services to Cricket award after being nominated by the Cheshire Cricket Board. He was also President of the Cheshire County League.

Harry contributed so much more to his beloved Upton Cricket Club where he had served as chairman and was their current President when he died. The membership’s appreciation of him was clearly demonstrated by the large number of green and yellow club ties that were worn by the members at Harry’s funeral.

It was very fitting that after the funeral we all were invited for refreshments at his beloved Upton Cricket Club where Harry had given so much service.

One of the many tributes said: “Of course he will not be seen on one of those benches in front of your pavilion at Upton CC in the coming season, but I think we all know he will be peering down from a much better vantage point and smiling approvingly on his adopted cricketing family.”

I attended Harry’s funeral at Birkenhead with John White (who was EPEA President from 1993-94) and his wife Sue. A marvellous tribute to Harry was delivered by Jim Brown, a fellow MANWEB pension scheme trustee.

Harry was a ‘one off’ a very sincere man whose friendship I valued so much and whose service to the community leaves you breathless. Our sincere sympathies extend to Harry’ wife Pam, children Nigel, Ian, Andrea and his grandchidren

We will miss you Harry – a very worthy innings!

Roger Neck (EPEA President 1990/91)

Pictures: Harry's daughter Andrea (above). Top: Roger Neck and John White with Harry's sons, Ian and Nigel.